Guide to the Disneyland FASTPASS Service

Hello frog friends! You may have hopped here looking for information on Disney MaxPass. This new optional FASTPASS paid add-on debuted in July 2017. While MaxPass is a great tool to maximize your time in the park, we’re focusing on the free, traditional paper FASTPASS distribution in this post. We are also sharing a few tricks our frog squad has learned from using MaxPass that can be applied to free FASTPASS below.

We're always looking for tips to make the most of our time at the Happiest Place on Earth. One of the best ways to save time and get the most of your trip is through the Disneyland FASTPASS Service. It's FREE and available to all park guests.

While it can seem a little confusing at first, once you know how it works, it can mean the difference between a 10-minute wait (or less) and a two-hour wait. We like to think of it as one of our many tools for maximizing time at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure! With the information provided in this post, you can too.

The Disneyland FASTPASS Service allows you to skip the lines for some of your favorite attractions in Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Parks. Today, we're walking you through all of the ins and outs of the Disneyland FASTPASS Service. Let's jump right to it!

How to Use Disneyland FASTPASS Service

A number of Disneyland Resort attractions (listed below) offer FASTPASS, which allows you to skip the regular line or reserve a spot at a show. To use the Disneyland FASTPASS Service, all you need to do is:

Go to the FASTPASS distribution kiosk of the attraction you want to ride to see the standby and FASTPASS return time (note that you can also check wait times and FASTPASS distribution times on the Disneyland mobile app before walking over).*

If the return time works for you, insert your admission ticket into the FASTPASS machine and you will receive a FASTPASS return time reminder ticket.

During your return time, visit the attraction FASTPASS return entrance with your park admission ticket for scanning (this usually near or next to the regular line).

* Some FASTPASS distribution kiosks are located in a different location than the actual attraction.

So Long, Paper Disneyland FASTPASS Tickets

Ever since the FASTPASS system was placed inside Disneyland, the printed FASTPASS tickets were your ticket to ride, so to speak. As of June 2017, the paper FASTPASS tickets are simply a reminder of your return window and aren’t really necessary. The actual FASTPASS is digitally stored on your park ticket or annual pass, so you’ll scan your ticket or pass at the ride or attraction at the appointed return time. Shows such as World of Color and Fantasmic! still use the paper FASTPASS system, so be sure to hold onto those FASTPASS tickets. You can manage all ride FASTPASSes through the Disneyland app (in case you want to cancel your plans or encounter a ride closure — see tips below.) Disney MaxPass is another way to reserve FASTPASSes through the Disneyland app. Both MaxPass and regular FASTPASS reservations are linked to the user's park ticket or annual pass.

Key Points of the Disneyland FASTPASS Service

FASTPASS distribution is now available during early entry, but the availability can vary.

All members of your party must have FASTPASSes to use the FASTPASS return entrance, but it is not necessary for your entire party to enter the FASTPASS distribution line. It saves more time if one person in your group enters the queue and obtains FASTPASSes for your whole party. Your designated "FASTPASS runner" just needs to have all of your group's admission tickets to obtain return time tickets.

If you send a runner to get the FASTPASSes with everyone’s park tickets, keep in mind that all guests’ park tickets must have been used to enter the park that day. You cannot acquire a FASTPASS for someone still asleep at the hotel. First come, first served. Park Hoppers need to have entered a park for the day.

You cannot obtain another FASTPASS until the start of the return time for your current FASTPASS or two hours since you obtained the FASTPASS have passed. It states on the FASTPASS at what time you will be eligible to acquire another FASTPASS.

If your return time is less than 30 minutes away from when you acquire a FASTPASS, you will be eligible to acquire the next FASTPASS after 30 minutes.

You can acquire another FASTPASS for a different ride even if you have not used the first FASTPASS, as long as you are eligible.

When an attraction is closed, the FASTPASS distribution is sometimes closed during that time, but not always.

The FASTPASS distribution machines at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are on a closed grid, which means if you hold a ticket for a ride in one park and are not eligible to acquire another ticket for another hour, you won't be able to acquire a ticket in the other park until that waiting period has ended.

Disneyland FASTPASS Tips

Some rides distribute FASTPASSes more quickly than others. Space Mountain at Disneyland and Radiator Springs Racers and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! at Disney California Adventure often run out of FASTPASSes early in the day.

Many rides at Disney California Adventure run through their FASTPASS distribution very quickly, so utilize them in the morning before they run out. Disneyland Park usually has many more FASTPASS choices available later in the evening.

Grizzly River Run, Goofy’s Sky School, The Haunted Mansion (but not Haunted Mansion Holiday), Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (when there’s no fireworks that night) and “it’s a small world” can usually be your lowest priority FASTPASS acquisitions since they are often still distributing return times in the afternoon and evening.

Download the free Disneyland Park App to check ride wait times and current FASTPASS distribution return times before walking over to the distribution area.

Link your ticket to the Disneyland app to be able to manage your FASTPASS to cancel, scan at the FASTPASS return from your phone, keep track of Rider Switch, or take advantage of other perks (like knowing how many multiple experience/ride closure FASTPASSes you have). From the app’s home screen, click My Tickets, the Plus Sign at the upper right corner, then Link Tickets & Passes. You scan the barcode for the pass or ticket and now you can manage your FASTPASS reservations. This is such an improvement over the old days where you could not change your mind and cancel a FASTPASS.

Acquire your second pass (even if you have not used your first one yet). In the morning, plan to use your FASTPASS near the end of the return window (you can arrive up to 10 minutes late) and take advantage of the shorter morning lines for rides that do not offer FASTPASS.

Don't use FASTPASS if the standby queue is 30 minutes or less. That being said, we sometimes grab a FASTPASS for a short wait anyway because it makes the wait even shorter. We love skipping lines!

FASTPASS distribution can run out and frequently does during peak times for the most popular attractions.

The FASTPASS return time is strictly enforced. You will need to return within the designated return time in order to enter the FASTPASS queue. (You can usually use your FASTPASS up to 5 minutes early or up to 10 minutes late.)

FASTPASSes only are valid on the day they are issued.

If you hold a FASTPASS, but the ride is temporarily closed until the end of your return window — breakdowns do occur — then your FASTPASS becomes a Multiple Experiences pass. Present your park ticket at another FASTPASS attraction in the park to use it in place of your missed reservation. Ask a cast member which rides are eligible. This is the only way you can use your FASTPASS outside of your one-hour window. You can use it any time that same day in that same park until park closing.

Always look at your FASTPASS return tickets after you've printed them. Verify that each of your party members has received FASTPASSes for the same return window. If you pull your next FASTPASS too soon after obtaining your previous FASTPASSes, you will be printed a ticket that says you are not yet eligible to obtain the FASTPASS.

A number of FASTPASS attractions also offer Single Rider Lines, which are usually just as short as FASTPASS and do not have time restrictions. If your party members are at least seven years old and don’t mind being separated on the ride itself, this is the way to go! Keep in mind that if the single rider line gets too long they will close the single rider line temporarily. Radiator Springs Racers and Space Mountain are our favorite go-to Single Rider lines. The Matterhorn tops the list, too.

Consider a Buddy Pass for Toy Story Midway Mania or Monsters Inc. to shorten the wait. The Buddy Pass is similar to a Single Rider line for small parties of one or two guests (possibly three — two adults and a small child) to fill empty rows for these rides. You do not get special requests for seating and these passes are subject to availability. Larger parties will be separated.

FASTPASS for World of Color is distributed near The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure. This the best (FREE!) way to ensure you get preferred viewing for this popular show. If you are park-hopping and want to hop back into California Adventure for the last show of World of Color, be sure to pick up a FASTPASS for it earlier in the day. They may require you to have a valid ticket and FASTPASS to get back into the park, especially if show time is right at park closing. (Note: world of Color under refurbishment until sometime in 2019.)

Pick up a FASTPASS for a show like Fantasmic! or World of Color and hold onto it until show time. Obtaining a show FASTPASS will not affect your ability to acquire a ride FASTPASS as the systems are disconnected from each other.

If you have a baby, toddler or preschooler who is under 3 years old but able to see a show or go on a FASTPASS ride, you do not need a FASTPASS for him or her. Children under 3 do not have a ticket to put into the machine. Just tell the ride attendant, and he or she will wave you through as long as everyone else has valid FASTPASSes.

If you are traveling with a child who does not meet the height requirement for a ride, you can combine Rider Switch with FASTPASS.

Guests using Disability Access Service (DAS) can also utilize FASTPASS. When traveling with a friend or family member who uses DAS, we tend to schedule rides that don’t have FASTPASS with DAS and obtain FASTPASSes for eligible rides.

If some members of your party use MaxPass (sometimes one person will purchase MaxPass so the group can enjoy the included PhotoPass downloads) while the others use free FASTPASS, you should all use the FASTPASS distribution machines to get the same return window. Keep in mind the person with MaxPass may have a shorter window to wait before they are eligible to obtain a new FASTPASS. (The MaxPass longest wait is 90 minutes vs. 120 minutes for regular FASTPASS users.) Go by the longest waiting period in the group so that you can all obtain the next FASTPASSes at the same time.

Disneyland Park FASTPASS Attractions

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters

Fantasmic! (disconnected from the FASTPASS system; distributed near Frontier Landing in Frontierland)

World of Color (disconnected from the FASTPASS system; distributed near The Little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure; under refurbishment until sometime in 2019)

*Note that during Halloween time, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission BREAKOUT! runs from park opening until about 4:00 p.m. The ride closes and reopens at 5:00 p.m. as the Monsters After Dark version. Keep your eye on the FASTPASS distribution that day. FASTPASS return windows starting until 3:00 p.m. are for the daytime version and FASTPASS return windows beginning at 5:00 p.m. are for Monsters After Dark, but all FASTPASSes for that ride will say Guardians of the Galaxy.

hi, I noticed above you said some fastpasses available when the fireworks aren't on. Do they not do the fireworks every night at Disneyland? we are going from Monday 8th April to Thursday 12th April. Please tell me the fireworks will be on these nights. Thanks

The new nighttime spectacular, Mickey's Mix Magic, will run every night - but fireworks that accompany the show only run on select nights. You can find the schedule here, but hoppy news for you - it looks like Mickey's Mix Magic will include fireworks on each day of your visit :) Enjoy!

Hi! I purchased e-tickets to Disneyland through UT, but I am trying to figure out how the tickets would work for the FastPass kiosks in the park. Is there a way to scan the barcode from a phone or printed e-ticket?

Thank you so much for this amazing blog!! So so helpful. We’re planning our first ever trip to disney (Disneyland and DCA) with a 2.5 and 4.5 yr old. Do you recommend we get the max passes? Are there any hotels that get access to FastPass 60 days in advance? And we’re going in June, is it best to avoid grad nights around those times? Thank you so much!!

Great question! At Disneyland, the FASTPASSes booked through MaxPass are reserved same-day (no booking ahead like you do at Disney World!). We highly recommend MaxPass during your visit, as Galaxy's Edge will open at the end of May, and those FASTPASSes will help you to mitigate the crowds (plus, all of your photo downloads will be included in the cost!)

We are going to Disneyland & Cal Adventure 6/2018. We have an infant and 7yr old with 4 adults. Would Max pass be advantageous? Seems as though its primarily for more of the "thrill rides" yet we would get the photo op advantage.

I thought I read the Max Pass cannot be used for Fantasmic or other shows like that- is this correct?

I'm confused on one thing. If I go to a ride and get a FASTPASS, I can't go to a different ride and get another FASTPASS until the time on the ticket indicates I can, correct? Or can I run around getting FASTPASSES for as many rides I want when I get to the park? Just not the same ride twice in a row (until time indicated)? Which is it?

Our experience is that through the app We havent been able to get an additional fast pass until we have used the previous one. Is this different in any way if you go pick them up in person? Can a person actually go pick many fast passes (for different rides) in the morning one after the other without having to use the first attraction’s fast passes first?

Hi, we'll be in orlando july 17-21....would like to visit magic kingdom...any days expected to be more quiet than others? They told us we could obtain entry tickets but no longer fastpass...is that true? If we can get them...where? And which attractions for small kids (7 and 5) will be most crowded?

Check out our Crowd Calendar that includes recommendations on what parks to visit. Fastpass+ is available for all guests. Our post has all the info. Fantasyland will have the best attractions for you kids, but it will be crowded. Use our Park Plan to make the most of your visit.

FASTPASS distribution is located next to, or near the individual attractions that offer it. There are some exceptions, such as Radiator Springs Racers. you can pick those up near It's Tough to be A Bug.

Me and my gf have two day park hopper tickets. We wanted to see the World of Color show one night but still go on rides throughout the day at disneyland before the show. Would we not be able to get fastpasses for Disneyland if we already got the fastpass for WoC? How fast do the fastpasses for WoC usually run out?

Hello, I read somewhere that Disney has changed their fast pass system and that you are no longer able to hold a fastpass at Disneyland and California at the same time because all the machines are connected now. Do you know if this is true?

I've read that all members of the party need to be in the park to get a fastpass; so you can't send one person early in the morning to start getting all the passes for everyone.

I am wondering if this same issue happens between the parks. So if everyone enters Disneyworld we could start getting fastpasses there no problem...

Would it then be possible to have just one person go to California adventure to get those fastpasses, or would everyone have to at least enter the California park (they wouldn't be able to stay in the Disneyworld park)?

Yes, everyone needs to have entered the park for the ticket to work in the FastPass machine. One person can run to the machine once you are all in the park, but the tickets won't work unless they have bee activated by the front gate. Trust us, we have tried!

Usually if you want front row, you need to be in place at least an hour to an hour and a half in advance. Less if you are OK standing behind people. For Paint the Night, I would pick my spot based on where I would like to see the fireworks, because it is really hard to navigate the park before fireworks. If you want a castle or Main Street location, start keeping your eye on people claiming spots 90 to 120 minutes in advance. For Small World, you can go less than an hour. There are raised areas and steps on the right side of the street (when facing Small World) that offer a good view of the parade that you can often get 15 to 30 minutes before the parade (perhaps longer if it is really crowded that day). Small World is much less crowded, close to the fireworks and easier to see the projection. But it does not give you the iconic castle view or flying Tinker Bell.

Generally, first parades start at Small World and end by the park entrance and the later shows flow the opposite way.

Hi! Great article. I am heading disney for january, Do i need to stay in one of their resorts in order to have the fast pass? because this time I am staying at a hotel outside disney. Thank you very myc

My wife and I are bringing 5 kids (17, 16, 14, 13 and 11) to Disneyland for a day - yikes! My wife and the kids have never been, and I haven't been in a LONG time. A little confused as to how to tackle the day with the FastPasses and all - ANY help with a suggested itinerary will be welcomed! Thanks very much!

We are so excited to be returning to Disneyland and California Adventure after a THREE YEAR ABSENCE! Wondering if we are able to get simultaneous Fast Passes for Radiator Springs, World of Color and Anna/Elsa? Thank you for any advice to help us make the most of this magical trip!!!

So I am confused the FASTPASS is free ? And if it is I insert my day ticket and get a time limit so if I get a fast pass at 3pm and the return is at 6pm and I return it at time can I get another FASTPASS ?

Yes. FASTPASS is free. When you insert your park ticket, you get a FASTPASS with a specified return time. You can get another FASTPASS when either two hours have passed or your current FASTPASS time window begins.

Thanks for the tips! Does the Anna & Elsa's Royal Welcome FastPass distribution begin at the start of early entry/extra magical hours? That's what it said on touringplans.com, but would like confirmation if possible - it will change our strategy if this is true!

So I discovered that I had to insert my park ticket with the magnetic strip facing upwards for the kiosk to work.

Also is the reason you can obtain a FASTPASS either once previous FASTPASS reservation window opens OR 2 hrs after issuance because if the previous FASTPASS reservation is for a really really popular ride that reservation window maybe 7 hrs from time of issuance. Thus the 2hr rule ensures you are not penalized and can obtain additional FPs?